genuinegirly

I was going to post this in the Ladies' Lounge, but it seems that men would have plenty to contribute to the discussion.

In a more general sense, people become offended or bothered if they see a mother breast feeding. More women are choosing to formula-feed their children, under the false impression that it is somehow healthier for themselves and their child. It's taboo to speak of human milk, and a fetish for adults. Is our adult distate for milk an evolutionary adaption, or simply a learned behavior?

Breast milk is a topic that fascinates me. Having never attempted to produce any myself, it seems a novel and confusing concept. Among new mothers, it is a frequent conversation - but to the rest of the world, it is simply not discussed.

A few questions to guide discussion:

- Did you breast feed your children, at what point in their development did you stop?
- What obstacles are in place that prevent a mother from breast feeding?
- Have you ever donated to a human milk bank?
- Do you feel breast milk should be sold?
- Share any interesting stories about human milk or breast feeding.

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It's illegal to sell breastmilk in California.

At least, this is what my sister has told me. After speaking with a couple of her online mother-friends who sell their milk, she thought it might be a productive way to make a little extra cash. She looked into it and realized it was not going to work for her, since it's illegal in California and she had no desire to become involved in a black market. But it started me thinking... Why?

I began thinking about the personal freedom aspect - it's your milk, your choice to produce it, what's wrong about trying to make a bit of profit off of it? But there are safety concerns as well.

Breast milk is not generally considered a biohazard in laboratories. There are plenty of other secreted fluids that are treated as such, but breast milk just isn't one of them. HIV and AIDS has been documented to transfer from mother to child through breast feeding, but general exposure to the milk is not considered harmful. The potential with infectious diseases seems a particularly excellent reason to forbid selling breast milk. Contaminants of other sorts pass through the mother's system into the milk - drugs, allergens, etc.

But this realization made me wonder why it would be legal anywhere. It also makes me curious if there are any regulations or certifications in place for someone who wishes to sell their own milk. Donation-based milk banks screen donors, but the process is so rigorous that it deterrs most potential donors. It seems that if there were a larger demand, fewer regulations would be essential to meet that demand.

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"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy